The Greenwich site

Greenwich, with London in the distance c.1680. The Observatory is depicted on the left, the River Thames on the right. Jan Vorsterman (Yale Center for British Art)

As a working institution, the Royal Observatory was located at the centre of Greenwich Park from the time of its founding in 1675 until the start of its move to Herstmonceux in the late 1940s. Parts of the site remained operational until late 1957.

Today, the buildings and grounds are a Scheduled Ancient Monument at the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They are in the care of the National Maritime Museum.

If you are unfamiliar with the Observatory and its history it may helpful to start by reading: